FOLEY – Improved flood ratings mean that many Foley homeowners will be paying less for flood insurance.
The National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System announced that Foley’s rating increased one level. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the change will cut insurance payments for many property owners.
“It reflects that we have done well at managing our floodplain resources,” Hellmich said. “We’re getting a bump to a better rating and it’s going to translate to everyone who has flood insurance in Foley to a 5% to 15% savings off of your premiums. That’s a direct benefit for citizens right now.”
The mayor said city officials have worked to set policies to reduce the danger of damage from flooding. Those actions helped improve the ratings.
“In the city, we do a lot of things to make sure we don’t make our flood insurance worse,” Hellmich said. “In other words, we make sure that no new permits go inside the current FEMA flood zone maps. We address drainage situations.”
A statement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Foley the city’s rating has improved to Class 7, up from Class 8. Foley’s floodplain management activities will allow property owners to qualify for a discount of up to 16% on flood insurance premiums for most NFIP policies issued or renewed on or after Oct. 1, 2023.
“This savings is a tangible result of the flood mitigation activities your community implements to protect lives and reduce property damage, “the statement said..